In the interests of farmers

Peter Axisa in Carry on Confusing (September 20) seems to consider sarcasm as his best selling point, not being aware that sarcasm is universally acknowledged to be the lowest form of wit.

I choose not to react to the bulk of his letter made up of sarcasm, innuendo and personal attacks. Mr Axisa would do well to note, however, that I have never claimed to be "an expert on the subject".

On the other hand he, and others of his ilk, seem to think that they are. Therefore, I fail to see why they have focused their expertise on endless repetitive tirades against all initiatives taken by the government to assist farmers through this period of change.

I get the impression that Mr Axisa believes that if he tries to focus arguments on persons instead of their arguments, he will manage to shift attention away from the real nature of the argument. This leads to the natural question about who in fact has a questionable agenda. At the time when I was, in my free time, campaigning along with many others within the IVA movement, Mr Axisa was advising the government regarding EU Accession and agriculture, and this not on a voluntary basis!

Regarding his assertions about the WTO, he does not seem to know exactly what he is talking about. The WTO cannot demand anything as it is an organisation providing a forum for agreement between member states, as the organisation that grew out of GATT. The EU is a member of this organisation and speaks in one voice for all its members, Malta included, on all matters of trade, and believe me, it is a strong voice indeed. While I myself am not an expert on WTO matters, MRAE officials who are could not resist smiling when they were asked to comment about Mr Axisa's description of the current state of play within the WTO. Mr Axisa's term used in my regard "waffle" is relatively kind compared to what they had to say about it.

This ministry is committed to doing its best to further the interests of farmers and consumers alike, so Mr Axisa et al would do well to stop taking the easy way out, the theatrical playing for the audience by taking cheap potshots at the establishment via letters that contribute nothing valid but are just negative, negative and more negative.

I will however take all genuine contributions with no hidden agendas seriously and make sure that they are channelled to the relevant experts and officials within this Ministry, always in close cooperation with my friend and colleague Ray Bezzina.